VOL 22 ISSUE 9, 16 SEPTEMBER 2020

God loves cultural diversityOne of our biggest challenges of being human is accepting difference.

Despite anti-discrimination laws, there is a distinct lack of respect, a lack of tolerance for our diversity of race, creed, cultural values, political persuasions or ideology.

Understanding the mindset and the passions of someone else in the world is vital because everything is connected.

If we look at each other with God’s eyes, we will realise we are all precious, unique and gifted. We are brothers and sisters on a journey.

As Nelson Mandela said: “We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

Multicultural environments present us with religious and cultural gifts. They also present us with challenges. We cannot afford to ignore the diversity in our midst. Nor the fact that the things we share are more valuable than those which divide us.

We can expect to see God’s face manifest in each unique person that makes up our wonderfully diverse school community.

Excerpts from Tim Costello’s ‘God loves cultural diversity’

Submitted by Megan Fyffe

Upcoming EventsWEEK 9THU 17 SEPTEMBER• School Tour PM

WEEK 10THU 24 SEPTEMBER• Closing Worship at 2:15pm

FRI 25 SEPTEMBER• Term 3 Concludes. This is an optional attendance day.

WEEK 1, TERM 4

MON 12 OCT• Term Four Commences

WEEK 2 - BOOK WEEK/BOOK FAIR

MON 19 - WED 21 OCT• Senior Camp - Swanport

FRI 23 OCT• Book Week Parade

INSPIRE photos featured this week:• Yr 3 Fyffe

From the Acting PrincipalCONCERT AND ST PAUL SPECTACULAR This year’s concert and Wakairri performances were disrupted due to Covid-19 and the need for social distancing. As they say though, ‘the show must go on’, and our Performing Arts Teacher, Mrs Marlise Janetzki, ensured that our students still had the opportunity to perform to a live audience. Marlise, in her first year in the Performing Arts role, creatively developed a program spanning two weeks to provide students with some amazing experiences and memories.

We are incredibly proud of Marlise and our Year 1-4 teachers for the development and execution of a very different, high standard, concert program. Our Year 5 and 6 teachers worked very closely with Marlise during this same period to develop our first ever St Paul Spectacular in place of the cancelled Wakakirri. All of these teachers went above and beyond the call of duty, putting in an immense amount of work to ensure our students did not miss out on the performance experience. Their work cannot be understated.

In the coming weeks we will have more information on how you can access the Concert and St Paul Spectacular Movie!

SCHOOL TOURS Next term we will resume some daytime School Tours. There are still some places available at most year levels in 2021. If you know anyone who would like to learn more about St Paul, more information can be found at http://www.stpaulba.sa.edu.au/enrolment/school-tours/

CONNECTED SCHOOLS ENRICHMENT PROGRAMAn important part of our Connected Schools partnership is our Enrichment Program for students who demonstrate exceptional skills in particular learning areas. Earlier this week a group of Year 6 students attended a workshop at Lumination, in Kent Town, to work with a team of engineers, STEM educators, designers and software developers to develop solutions to some environmental sustainability problems.

Jason Fay|Deputy Principal

Students celebrating birthdays this weekMelika Ebrahimgol Sienna Amin-Youssef Elyana Addo Zain Wahedi

From the Wellbeing LeaderOPTIONAL ATTENDANCE DAY- FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBERThe last day of term, Friday 25 September, will be an optional attendance day for all students from Reception to Year 6. In order to assist us in planning, please indicate whether your child/ren will be attending school by Monday 21 September via the Eform which was sent via email last week. This is part of our commitment to use less paper forms at St Paul.

AUSTRALIAN LUTHERAN WORLD SERVICE VISITThe Year 5 classes have been exploring issues around global poverty. Students will be participating in an incursion with Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) on Wednesday September 16. Celia Fielke from ALWS will lead the students in a 90 minute session about the topic ‘Why are there poor people in the world?’. The session covers what it is really like to be poor. What does that really mean? How does it affect people physically, emotionally and mentally. Real life stories of what it is like for children. How does an organisation like ALWS actually make a difference. How can just one person make a difference. Our community is blessed to have partnerships with organisations like ALWS who offer authentic links to real world contexts.

FRIDAY COMMUNITY TIMEOur last Community Afternoon is scheduled for this Friday 18 September (Week 9). Please note that students can wear their sports uniform on Friday 18 September. Our student leaders are excited to lead our last Community Afternoon for Term 3.

YEAR 9 ENDEAVOUR BAND TOUROn Wednesday 23 September a group of music students from Endeavour College will be performing a number of songs to the St Paul Community. We are fortunate to have special events like these that continue to strengthen our partnership with Endeavour College.

CONCERT AND ST PAUL SPECTACULAR PHOTOS ARE READY!A special thanks to Tania Pile from Photoplay Studios who kindly volunteered her time last week to take an amazing array of Concert and St Paul Spectacular photos. The online gallery can be found HERE and the password is SPLS2020

Families can access up to 4 photos under one email address. The gallery is live and will remain active until Sunday 11 October – last day of the school holidays.

LIVE STREAMToday we trialled the live stream feature on Facebook for Miss Bartlett’s Chapel. We will live stream our weekly Chapel and Assembly gatherings each week from now on. Next week join us on Thursday 24 at 2:15pm for closing Chapel.

Carly Bergen|Wellbeing Leader

General News

BOOK WEEK 2020 - DRESS UP DAY To coincide with Book Week, we will be holding a dress up day based on book characters on Friday 23 of October (Term 4 Week 2). This is a much-anticipated event at St Paul and it is always great to see the vast array of costumes on the day. Students will get an opportunity to parade their costumes during the Book Week assembly. For students who would like to dress up and participate in the day, they will need to make sure that they have the book with them on which their dress up is based. Students can also come dressed in the Book Week theme “Curious Creatures, Wild Minds”.Please note: This is not a casual day, if students do not wish to dress up they will need to wear normal school uniform.

Wendy McLeod|Library Resource Manager SPLASH - VACATION CARE

Just a reminder that this Friday, 18 September is the deadline for October Vacation Care bookings. Please submit forms to SPLASH or via the front office to secure your spot. Rebecca Heinjus and Dianne Brown|Director / Assistant Director

From our Community ChaplainCOMMUNITY CARE – PARENTING WORKSHOPS AND COUNSELLING SERVICESLutheran Community Care offer support to communities through responding to the needs of individuals and families, community development, learning

opportunities, accommodation and support.

Did you know their staff and volunteers walk alongside those in need to provide, not just the necessities of food, clothing and shelter, but also support and care?

Below are some of the services they provide.

• Parenting Workshops: o Starting School o Making the Most of Life with 5-12 year olds o Toolbox parenting Workshops o The ABCD’s of Parenting: Tools for raising great kids o Balancing Screen Time 2 Hour Workshop

• Counselling Services: o Personal counselling o Marriage and relationship counselling o Assistance to families / parenting support o Support though separation or divorce

Fees for counselling are assessed according to household income.

If you are going through hard times, there are services available to support children and families. For more information on dates, venues and costs for workshops, or to make an appointment, please contact Blair Athol branch phone 8269 9300, email blairathol@lccare.org.au or visit their website www.lccare.org.au If anyone would like extra support at this time, please email Louise Venning, Community Chaplain,lvenning@stpaulba.sa.edu.au

Church NewsCHURCH SERVICES AT ST PAUL Our Worship services - Traditional 8.30am - Contemporary 10.00am

Please sign in on arrival showing attendance for contact tracing requirements. We are hoping to re-start Godly Play for Primary School aged children in Term 4. We hope to see you soon!

St Paul Lutheran School 44 Audrey Avenue Blair Athol SA 5084 Phone +61 8 8260 2655admin@stpaulba.sa.edu.au stpaulba.sa.edu.au

OUR VISION:

PROUD MEMBER OF:

OUR VALUES:

God’s Word2 Timothy 3:16-17

AcceptanceRomans 15:7

Excellence1 Corinthians 10:31

RespectLuke 6:31

Compassion1 John 3:18

HopeTitus 3:7

Community2 Corinthians 13:13

Love1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

SPY TERM 3 St Paul Youth for Years 6-8 is meeting again this Friday 18 September, 7-9:00pm in the hall. Cost $2. Supper provided. For more information, call Nicole on 0412 686 342. PLAYGROUP AT ST PAUL St Paul Playgroup is on every Tuesday morning in term time in the Church hall at 9:00am. For parents and carers with a child/children aged 0-5. Come along and join us for a time of play, song and story. BLUEPRINT MINISTRIES CAMP.ONLINE This coming school holidays, Blueprint Ministries, together with LLL, is providing a free “camp.online” program, in place of the regular Christian Life Week camps. Each morning between the 28 September and 2 October there will be worship services and various activities and discussion times held via Zoom. For year 7-12 students, but activities are also available for years 4-6. To register, visit https://www.blueprintministries.org.au/ OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD – SHOEBOXES OF LOVE At St Paul Church we are again getting ready to pack shoeboxes of love for Operation Christmas Child. A brochure with ideas on what to pack is included in wrapped and ready to go shoeboxes provided by the congregation. The cost is $10.00 to be provided with each box to cover freight and outreach. Shoeboxes are available at the entrance to the Church/Splash or for more information, please contact Kylie in the Church office, phone 8262 4690 LUTHERAN COMMUNITY CARE For the month of September, LCC are asking for donations of tinned fruit, tinned vegetables, toothbrushes and ladies underwear (new). Donations can be left on the table in the narthex or via our School front office. Thank you.

GROW MINISTRIES VERSE OF THE WEEK So why do you judge your brothers or sisters in Christ? And why do you think you are better than they are? We will all stand before God to be judged.

Romans 14:10